Former Georgia state Sen. Hugh Gillis dies at 94
By dbiz at January 3, 2013 | 11:15 am | 0 Comment
SOPERTON, Ga. — Former state Sen. Hugh M. Gillis of Soperton, who was once honored as the longest-serving state legislator in the country with more than 50 years in the General Assembly, has died. He was 94. Gillis died Tuesday at Meadows Regional Hospital in Vidalia with his family by his side, according to Sammons Funeral Home in Soperton. The funeral home was
4 of Richmond County’s homicides in 2012 remain unsolved
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:33 am | 0 Comment
As the year comes to a close, four of Richmond County’s 32 homicides in 2012 remain unsolved. Two of those cases, investigators say, have gone cold. One is the Jan. 16 death of Kyle Royal. The 16-year-old was fatally shot in a vehicle outside Magic City, a nightclub then operating illegally at 3200 Mike Padgett Highway. Richmond County sheriff’s Lt. Blaise Dresser
City Ink: We must look back before we look ahead
By dbiz at December 30, 2012 | 1:33 am | 0 Comment
Janus, the mythological Roman god with two heads facing opposite directions, usually looks back on the old year and forward to make his predictions for the new year. But it was such an eventful year in Augusta politics he’s going to focus mainly on 2012 with only a glance toward 2013. JANUS LOOKS BACK read
Bill would exempt guns, ammo made in SC from federal regulations
By dbiz at December 29, 2012 | 6:26 am | 0 Comment
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A proposed piece of legislation intends to exempt pistols and rifles made in South Carolina from federal regulation as long as they stay in-state. The Firearms Freedom Act, pre-filed earlier this month by state Sen. Lee Bright, would mean that firearms, ammunition and gun accessories made in South Carolina aren’t subject to federal rules and
Southern Co. building coal-fired power plant
By dbiz at December 29, 2012 | 6:25 am | 0 Comment
DEKALB, Miss. — In the woods of east Mississippi, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Co. is pouring billions of dollars into construction of a power plant that burns coal but would emit less carbon dioxide. It’s a response to looming federal limits on carbon emissions as regulators try to curtail global warming. Each day, as 2,600 construction workers toil away at
Watson-Brown Foundation accepting scholarship applications
By dbiz at December 27, 2012 | 12:27 am | 0 Comment
The Watson-Brown Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2013-14 year to help current and incoming college students who show financial need or academic merit. The foundation will award 200 scholarships worth $ 3,000 or $ 5,000 to students in Georgia and South Carolina who will attend a four-year accredited university. Students must apply by
Bond granted for Augusta man involved in shootout
By dbiz at December 20, 2012 | 11:28 am | 0 Comment
A $ 40,000 bond was set Wednesday for an Augusta man accused of aggravated assault and other charges in an April shootout at a Richmond Hill Road apartment complex. Christopher Y. Bush, 25, has been held in jail since his April 15 arrest. According to Assistant District Attorney Rex Myers, Bush got into an argument with Clinton Coleman, 26, and his brother after they
Some Augusta voters use vacant lots as registration address
By dbiz at December 1, 2012 | 11:11 pm | 0 Comment
Don’t look for Deborah Pierce at 112 Telfair St. You won’t find her. You won’t speak with Regina Walker at 1005 Bennett Lane either, and never mind calling on Alfred Lofton at 1411 Clay St. They don’t live there. No one does. All three are registered voters who managed to make it to the polls this year, but like dozens of Richmond County
Average rate on 30-year fixed mortgage falls to 3.31 percent
By dbiz at November 21, 2012 | 11:32 pm | 0 Comment
WASHINGTON — Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell to fresh record lows this week, a trend that is boosting home sales and aiding the housing recovery. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday that the average rate on the 30-year loan dipped to 3.31 percent, the lowest on records dating back to 1971. That’s down from 3.34 percent last week, the previous
Roundtree wins sheriff’s race
By dbiz at November 7, 2012 | 1:27 pm | 0 Comment
Richard Roundtree made history Tuesday – becoming Richmond County’s first black sheriff in the office’s 230 years. Roundtree defeated his Republican opponent, Freddie Sanders, 49,389 to 28,395, garnering more than 63 percent of votes cast. Roundtree said the win was more than a political victory – it was a mandate from the people that it was time for
